Preliminary Night Victory is the Highlight for
The Dude's 2007 Nationals

By Bob Jones
August 15, 2007

Danny Lasoski and the Roth Motorsports Team came into the Knoxville Raceway with a head of steam and high expectations.  Lasoski's history at Knoxville Raceway speaks for itself and nobody has matched the consistency of Lasoski's Nationals performances over the past 10 years.

"We certainly haven't had the kind of season we were looking for heading into this year.  We've been fast at times but not consistently fast enough to be the car to beat every night.  That being said, we headed to Knoxville expecting to win.  We knew Schatz, Saldana and some other guys would be tough but we felt like we had just as good of chance as anyone," said Lasoski.

After Wednesday night's program was postponed due to rain, Lasoski and the Roth Motorsports Team ran their qualifying program on Friday night.  "We drew a late number and timed in 24th quick.  That made us a little nervous about the motor we had in so we changed it before the Feature.  Paul Kistler has built us some serious horsepower so we weren't worried about bolting in another bullet," he said.

Lasoski started his Heat Race in the fifth spot and had taken the lead by lap 3.  From there it was smooth sailing to the Heat Race victory.  As luck would have it, Lasoski caught the 8 invert for the A Main putting the Roth Motorsports machine on the pole for the Feature Event.  

As the Feature Event kicked off, The Dude shot to the early lead.  As the Event went green-to-checkered Lasoski checked out and was never seriously challenged on the way to his 89th career victory at Knoxville Raceway.  "We were real good Friday night.  The car felt great and the motor was running real strong.  They told me in the press conference that we lapped up to seventh place so I'd say we had it rolling around there pretty good," said Lasoski.

After the points were tallied from the two Preliminary Events, Lasoski and the Roth Motorsports Team sat in the 12th spot for Saturday night's finale.  Lasoski moved forward early in the race but faded to finish 12th.  

"We just missed it.  I couldn't find any grip on the bottom so I tried the middle and no luck there either.  I got rolling around the top pretty decent but the car was a handful to drive.  It is amazing how we can be so good one night and just be junk the next.  Same car, same motor, same everything.  We just blew the set-up.  We made some adjustments there on the red flag and it made it worse.  I just can't believe we were that bad...and at Knoxville of all places," said a dejected Lasoski.

"We just need to put this one behind us and move on to the next race.  We had a good run going but it just wasn't meant to be.  We just put so much focus into this one race that it is hard to accept 12th place.  But it is what it is," he said.

Up next for Lasoski and the Roth Motorsports Team is a trip to Canada for a two day show at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Stay tuned to www.dannylasoski.com for continued news and results.

Fast Facts--Did you know?

Danny Lasoski's victory on Friday night not only extended his Career Victory Record at Knoxville Raceway to 89, but it also extended a winning streak of at least one Knoxville Feature Victory every year since 1986.